(12) United States Patent
`Mai
`
`US006270230B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,270,230 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Aug. 7, 2001
`
`(54) UMBRELLA WITH ALERT DEVICE
`
`5,323,798 * 6/1994 Yang .................................. .. 362/102
`5,502,624 * 3/1996 Tu ...................................... .. 362/102
`
`(76) Inventor: Kuei Ying Mai, 1103 S. San Gabriel,
`Suite E, San Gabriel, CA (Us) 91776
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U-S-C- 154(k)) by 0 days-
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/344,670
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 25, 1999
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(62) Division of application No. 09/146,515, ?led on Sep. 3,
`1998’ now Pat No_ 579547417'
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ...................................................... .. A45B 3/02
`U-S. Cl. ......................... ..
`(58) Field of Search ................................... .. 362/102, 800,
`362/234; 135/910, 16
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U S PATENT DOCUMENTS
`'
`'
`4,601,120 * 7/1986 Levin ................................... .. 40/317
`4,860,179 * 8/1989 Mui et a1. .......................... .. 362/102
`
`*
`
`'
`'t d b
`C1 6
`y exammer
`Primary Examiner—Thomas M. Sember
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Raymond Y. Chan; David
`and Raymond Patent Group
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`An umbrella With alert device includes a circular umbrella
`cover made of Waterproof fabric or plastic material, an
`umbrella frame for supporting the umbrella cover to form an
`umbrella body, and an alert device for providing visual
`Warning signal to others on the road. The alert device
`includes a battery receiver mounted beloW the umbrella
`cover, a battery stored Within the battery receiver for pro
`viding poWer supply, a plurality of LEDs Which are electri
`cally connected With each other and the battery by electrical
`Wires and spacedly disposed around an outer edges of the
`gores, a transparent strip Water-sealedly Welded on the outer
`edges of the panels by ultrasonic Welding or sewed on the
`Outer edges of the gores to Cover the
`and the electrical
`Wires, and a poWer sWitch electrically connected to the
`battery for controlling on and off of the alert device. The
`umbrella With alert device is speci?cally designed to
`enhance the visibility of the user during nighttime raining
`condition, so that the user can be more easily located by the
`drivers on the road, so as to avoid accident.
`
`10 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 7, 2001
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`Sheet 1 0f 6
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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 7, 2001
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`Sheet 2 0f 6
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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 3
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 7, 2001
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`Sheet 3 0f 6
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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 4
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 7, 2001
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`Sheet 4 0f 6
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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`3 T
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`3 \
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`831'
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`831 '
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`84'
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`20'
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`862'
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`861'
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 7, 2001
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`Sheet 5 0f 6
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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 6
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 7, 2001
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`Sheet 6 6f 6
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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`..mm
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`10mm
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 7
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`

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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`1
`UMBRELLA WITH ALERT DEVICE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED ART
`
`This is a divisional application for a utility application,
`application Ser. No. 09/146,515, ?led Sep. 3, 1998, now
`US. Pat. No. 5,954,417.
`
`FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more
`particularly to an umbrella With visual alert device for
`enhancing the visibility of the user during raining night.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`
`The design of umbrella is not only limited to block out
`rain, but also can be used to block out sun light radiation.
`Normally, the umbrella is used during daytime to either
`block out the sun light radiation during sunny Weather
`condition or block out rain during raining Weather condition.
`During nighttime, the umbrella is only used to block out rain
`during raining Weather condition. During raining Weather
`condition, the visibility is very poor, especially during heavy
`doWn pouring. The problem With loW visibility is magnify at
`nighttime When the degree of brightness is much loWer than
`daytime.
`For those Who need to travel on the street during nighttime
`raining condition, not only do they have to battle With cold
`and Wet Weather, but also the road is full of haZardous
`condition. It is extremely difficult for a driver in a vehicle to
`see the pedestrian Walking across the street under raining
`Weather condition during nighttime. This is especially true
`for umbrella Which has dark color. Even if the umbrella is in
`shining color such as yelloW or bright red, during nighttime
`raining condition, the vision of the driver is still relatively
`loW in compare to daytime sunny Weather condition.
`Although most drivers are much more cautious under such
`haZardous condition, but accidents happened during night
`time raining Weather condition are still at an alarming rate.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`The main objective of the present invention is to provide
`an umbrella With alert device Which is especially design to
`enhance the visibility of the user during nighttime raining
`condition, so that the user can be more easily located by the
`drivers on the road, so as to avoid accident.
`Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
`umbrella With alert device, Which is easy to manufacture in
`relatively loW cast and can better decorate the outlook of the
`umbrella.
`Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objectives,
`the present invention provides an umbrella With alert device
`Which comprises a circular umbrella cover made of Water
`proof fabric or plastic material, an umbrella frame for
`supporting the umbrella cover to form an umbrella body, and
`an alert device for providing visual Warning signal to others
`on the road. The umbrella cover comprises a plurality of
`gores seWing edge to edge to form a circular con?guration.
`The umbrella frame comprises a rod, a plurality of ribs each
`having a ?rst end intervally jointed at an upper portion of
`said rod and a second end extended outWardly and doWn
`Wardly to form a tip for supporting the umbrella cover by
`fastening the gores thereof on the ribs, a runner slidably
`mounted on said rod, a plurality of stretchers each having a
`?rst end pivotally jointed at the runner and a second end
`pivotally jointed at a middle position of the respective rib,
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`and a controlling means for operating the umbrella frame to
`stretch out to open the umbrella or to fold up to close the
`umbrella.
`The alert device comprises a battery receiver mounted
`beloW the umbrella cover, a battery stored Within the battery
`receiver for providing poWer supply, a plurality of LEDs
`Which are electrically connected With each other and the
`battery by electrical Wires and spacedly disposed around an
`outer edges of the gores, a transparent strip Water-sealedly
`Welded on the outer edges of the panels by ultrasonic
`Welding or seWed on the outer edges of the gores to cover the
`LEDs and the electrical Wires, and a poWer sWitch electri
`cally connected to the battery for controlling on and off of
`the alert device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a top perspective vieW of an umbrella With alert
`device according to a ?rst preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective vieW of the umbrella With
`alert device according to the above ?rst preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a bottom vieW of an umbrella With alert device
`according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 4 is a detail sectional vieW illustrating an LED
`disposed Within a light housing of the alert device according
`to the above second preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 5 is a top vieW of an umbrella With alert device
`according to a third preferred embodiment of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 6 is a sectional side vieW of an umbrella With alert
`device according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the draWings, an umbrella
`With alert device according to a ?rst preferred embodiment
`of the present invention is illustrated, Which comprises an
`umbrella frame 1 for supporting a circular umbrella cover 3
`made of Water proof fabric or plastic material to form an
`umbrella body 2, and an alert device 80 for providing visual
`Warning signal to others on the road.
`The umbrella cover 3 comprises a plurality of gores 30
`seWing edge to edge to form a circular covering. The
`umbrella frame 1 comprises a rod 10, a plurality of ribs 20
`each having a ?rst end jointed at an upper portion 11 of the
`rod 10 and a second end eXtended outWardly and doWn
`Wardly to form a tip 21 for supporting the umbrella cover 3
`by fastening the gores 30 thereof on the ribs 20 respectively,
`a runner 40 slidably mounted on the rod 10, a plurality of
`stretchers 50 each having a ?rst end pivotally jointed at the
`runner 40 and a second end pivotally jointed at a middle
`position of the respective rib 20, and a controlling means 90
`for operating the umbrella frame 1 to fully stretch out to
`open the umbrella or to fold up to close the umbrella.
`The alert device 80 comprises a battery receiver 81
`mounted beloW the umbrella cover 3, at least a battery 82
`stored Within the battery receiver 81 for providing poWer
`supply, a plurality of LEDs 83 intervally distributed on the
`gores 30 of the umbrella cover 3, Which are electrically
`connected With each other and the battery 82 by electrical
`Wires 831 to form an electrical circuit, at least a transparent
`
`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 8
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`

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`US 6,270,230 B1
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`3
`strip 84 Water-sealedly af?Xed on the umbrella cover 3 to
`cover the LEDs 83 and the electrical Wires 831 disposed on
`the gores 30 of the umbrella cover 3 for sealedly isolating
`the LEDs 83 from outside and holding the LEDs 83 in
`position, and a poWer sWitch 85 electrically connected to the
`battery 82 for sWitching on and off the alert device 80.
`According to the ?rst preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, the battery receiver 81 is attached to the underside
`of the umbrella cover 3 and the plurality of LEDs 83 are
`spacedly disposed around outer edges 31 of the gores 30 of
`the umbrella cover 3. The electrical Wires 831, Which are
`connected betWeen every tWo LEDs 83, are also eXtended
`along the outer edges 31 of the gores 30. In order to further
`af?X the LEDs 83 and the electrical Wires 831 on the gores
`30, the LEDs 83 and the electrical Wires 831 can respec
`tively be seWed or glued to the top surfaces of the gores 30.
`The transparent strip 84 is made of Waterproof material such
`as transparent PVC strip, Which is extended along the outer
`edges 31 of the gores 83 of the umbrella cover 80 to cover
`all the LEDs 83 and the electrical Wires 831, Wherein tWo
`sides of the transparent strip 84 are sealedly Welded on the
`outer edges 31 of the gores 30 of the umbrella cover 3 by
`ultrasonic Welding or seWed on the outer edge 31 of the
`gores 30 for preventing any Water or moisture from con
`tacting With the LEDs 831 and the electrical Wires 831.
`In other Words, a series of LEDs 83 are intervally aligned
`along the periphery edge of the umbrella cover 3. Therefore,
`When a user of the umbrella of the ?rst preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention is uses the umbrella at rainy
`night, the user may sWitch on the alert device 80 by
`operating the poWer sWitch 85. Then, the battery 82 provides
`electricity to light up all the LEDs 83 disposed around the
`periphery edge of the umbrella cover 3, so that the drivers
`around the user can easily aWare the location of the user
`through the lighting LEDs 83 to prevent accident. It is Worth
`to mention that the poWer sWitch 85 can be incorporated
`With the controlling means 90 so that once the user open the
`umbrella, the LEDs 83 Would be automatically lighted up,
`and that When the user close the umbrella, the LEDs 83
`Would be automatically sWitched off.
`Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the draWings, an alternative
`mode of the umbrella With alert device according to a second
`preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.
`The alert device 80‘ also comprises a battery receiver 81‘
`mounted on the underside of the umbrella cover 3‘, at least
`a battery 82‘ stored Within the battery receiver 81‘ for
`providing poWer supply, a plurality of LEDs 83‘ electrically
`connected With each other and the battery 82‘ by electrical
`Wires 831‘, and a poWer sWitch 85‘ electrically connected to
`the battery 82‘ for sWitching on and off of the alert device
`80‘.
`As shoWn in FIG. 4, a plurality of LED holders 86‘ are
`respectively mounted on the tips 21‘ of the ribs 20‘, Wherein
`each LED holder 86‘ has a narroW entrance passage 861‘ that
`leads to an inner LED receiving chamber 862‘ for receiving
`the respective LED 83‘ therein. The diameter of the narroW
`entrance passage 861‘ is slightly larger than a diameter of the
`tip 21‘ of the rib 20‘ of the umbrella, so that the LED holder
`86‘ can be slipped and mounted on the tip 21‘ of the rib 20‘
`of the umbrella.
`Moreover, the electrical Wires 831‘ are extended along and
`beloW the outer edges 31‘ of the gores 30‘ so as to electrically
`connected the LEDs 83‘ to the battery 82‘. Similarly, a
`transparent strip 84‘ is either Welded along the outer edges
`31‘ of the gores 30‘ by ultrasonic Welding or seWed on the
`outer edge 31‘ of the gores 30‘ for enclosing the electrical
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`Wire 831‘ in Water-sealed manner. The LEDs 83‘ are respec
`tively placed inside the LED receiving chambers 862‘ of the
`LED holders 86‘ Which are fastened on the tips 21‘ of the rib
`20‘ in Water-sealed manner respectively so as to hold the
`LEDs 83‘ in position. The corresponding electrical Wire 831‘
`is connected to the respective LED 83‘ through the narroW
`entrance passage 861‘ of the LED holder 86‘.
`Accordingly, a series of LEDs 83‘ are installed at the tips
`21‘ of the ribs 20‘ of the umbrella, so that When the umbrella
`of the second preferred embodiment is used at rainy night,
`the user may sWitch on the alert device 80‘ by operating the
`poWer sWitch 85‘. Then, the battery 82‘ lights up all the LEDs
`83‘ around the umbrella cover 3‘ to Warn the drivers around
`the umbrella user.
`Referring to FIG. 5 of the draWing, another alternative
`mode of the umbrella With alert device according to a third
`preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated,
`Wherein the alert device 80“ is similar to the above ?rst and
`second embodiments. The difference betWeen this third
`embodiment and the above ?rst and second embodiments is
`that the plurality of LEDs 83“ are respectively and intervally
`installed along the ribs 20“ on the umbrella cover 3“. There
`are a plurality of transparent strips 84“ respectively attached
`along the connecting edges of the gores 30“ to sealedly
`cover the LEDs 83“ and the electrical Wires 831“ connected
`betWeen the LEDs 83“.
`It is Worth to mention that the alert devices 80, 80‘, 80“ of
`the above ?rst, second and third embodiments can be
`combined to installed on the umbrella With a single poWer
`source. Furthermore, depending on the quality of the gores
`30, 30‘, 30“, if the gores 30, 30‘, 30“ are also made of
`transparent material that alloWs the light to pass through, the
`LEDs 83, 83‘ or 83“ and the transparent strips 84, 84‘ or 84“
`can both be installed on the underside of the gores 30, 30‘
`30“. Besides, the transparent strip 84, 84‘, 84“ can be
`substituted by a transparent tube and the LEDs 83, 83‘, 83“
`and the electrical Wires 831, 831‘, 831“ are inserted in the
`transparent tube for Waterproof purpose.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An umbrella, comprising
`an umbrella frame for supporting a circular umbrella
`cover made of Water proof material to form an umbrella
`body, Wherein said umbrella cover comprises a plural
`ity of gores seWing edge to edge to form a circular
`covering, said umbrella frame comprising a rod, a
`plurality of ribs each having a ?rst end jointed at an
`upper portion of said rod and a second end eXtended
`outWardly and doWnWardly to form a tip for supporting
`said umbrella cover by fastening said gores thereof on
`said ribs respectively, a runner slidably mounted on
`said rod, a plurality of stretchers each having a ?rst end
`pivotally jointed at said runner and a second end
`pivotally jointed at a middle position of the respective
`rib, and a controlling means for operating said umbrella
`frame to fully stretch out to open said umbrella and to
`fold up to close said umbrella; and
`an alert device for providing visual Warning signal,
`Wherein said alert device comprises a battery receiver
`mounted beloW said umbrella cover, at least a battery
`stored Within said battery receiver for providing poWer
`supply, a plurality of LEDs electrically connected With
`each other and said battery by electrical Wires and
`intervally distributed on said gores of said umbrella
`cover, at least a transparent strip Water-sealedly af?Xed
`on said umbrella cover to cover said LEDs and said
`electrical Wires disposed on said gores of said umbrella
`
`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 9
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`

`

`US 6,270,230 B1
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`5
`cover for sealedly isolating said LEDs from outside and
`holding said LEDs in position, and a power switch
`electrically connected to said battery for switching on
`and off said alert device.
`2. The umbrella as recited in claim 1 wherein said battery
`receiver is attached to an underside of said urnbrella cover.
`3. The urnbrella as recited in claim 2 wherein said
`plurality of LEDs are spacedly disposed around outer edges
`of said gores of said urnbrella cover and said electrical wires
`which are connected between every two of said LEDs are
`also extended along said outer edges of said gores.
`4. The urnbrella as recited in claim 3 wherein said
`transparent strip is made of waterproof material, which is
`eXtended along said outer edges of said gores of said
`urnbrella cover to cover and hold all said LEDs and said
`electrical wires in position, wherein two sides of said
`transparent strip are sealedly welded on said outer edges of
`said gores of said urnbrella cover by ultrasonic welding.
`5. The urnbrella as recited in claim 2 wherein said
`plurality of LEDs are respectively and intervally installed
`along said ribs on said urnbrella cover and there are a
`plurality of said transparent strips respectively attached
`along said ribs respectively to sealedly cover said LEDs and
`said electrical wires connected between said LEDs.
`6. The urnbrella as recited in claim 5 wherein two sides of
`each of said transparent strip are sealedly welded on said
`outer edges of said gores of said urnbrella cover by ultra
`sonic welding.
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`7. The urnbrella as recited in claim 1 wherein said
`plurality of LEDs are spacedly disposed around outer edges
`of said gores of said urnbrella cover and said electrical wires
`which are connected between every two of said LEDs are
`also extended along said outer edges of said gores.
`8. The urnbrella as recited in claim 7 wherein said
`transparent strip is made of waterproof material, which is
`eXtended along said outer edges of said gores of said
`urnbrella cover to cover all said LEDs and said electrical
`wires, wherein two sides of said transparent strip are
`sealedly welded on said outer edges of said gores of said
`urnbrella cover by ultrasonic welding.
`9. The urnbrella as recited in claim 1 wherein said
`plurality of LEDs are respectively and intervally installed
`along said ribs on said urnbrella cover and there are a
`plurality of said transparent strips respectively attached
`along said ribs respectively to sealedly cover said LEDs and
`said electrical wires connected between said LEDs.
`10. The urnbrella as recited in claim 9 wherein two sides
`of each of said transparent strip are sealedly welded on said
`outer edges of said gores of said urnbrella cover by ultra
`sonic welding.
`
`LakeSouth Exhibit 2012 – Page 10
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`